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Woodcock Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.7M
Grant Range
$32K - $0.0M

Woodcock Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.7 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Case-by-case basis
  • Grant Range: Median $32,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily United States

Contact Details

  • Website: www.woodcockfdn.org
  • Address: 1411 Broadway, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10018
  • Phone: Not publicly listed
  • Email: Not publicly listed

Overview

The Woodcock Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1990 with approximately $92 million in assets. The foundation works toward a more equitable and sustainable world through strategic grantmaking focused on strengthening democracy, advancing educational and economic opportunity, and protecting the environment. With annual distributions of approximately $6.7 million, the foundation made 66 grants in 2023 with a median grant size of $32,000. The foundation practices trust-based philanthropy and emphasizes long-term, core funding relationships with carefully selected grantees. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and instead proactively identifies and develops partnerships with organizations aligned with their mission and guiding principles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation focuses on three interconnected areas:

  • Strengthening Democracy: Supporting civic engagement, election innovation, and voter empowerment initiatives
  • Educational and Economic Opportunity: Programs that foster entrepreneurship, leadership development, and economic inclusion
  • Environmental Protection: Conservation efforts, sustainable agriculture, and climate action

Priority Areas

  • Community development and empowerment
  • Leadership development programs
  • Entrepreneurship and economic innovation
  • Environmental conservation and wildlife protection
  • Civic engagement and democratic participation
  • Youth development and education
  • Social justice initiatives

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation:

  • Does not accept unsolicited proposals
  • Rarely funds new organizations
  • Limited resources restrict broad grantmaking

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

  • Stacey Faella - Executive Director
  • Kavanaugh Waddel - Program Director
  • Jeremy Guth - Trustee
  • Margot Brandenburg - Trustee
  • Winthrop Rutherfurd - Trustee

The foundation operates with 9 trustees who guide strategic direction and grantmaking decisions through careful deliberation with staff and existing grantees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that "unsolicited proposals and letters of inquiry will not be reviewed." Grants are determined through careful deliberation between trustees, staff, and existing grantees on a case-by-case basis.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation proactively identifies organizations aligned with their critical issues and guiding principles. They seek organizations that demonstrate:

  • Strong alignment with one or more of their three focus areas
  • Leadership and entrepreneurship in their approach
  • Potential for long-term partnership and impact
  • Community-centered solutions

Organizations working in democracy strengthening, economic opportunity, or environmental protection may be discovered through:

  • Recommendations from current grantees
  • Sector convenings and conferences
  • Collaborative funding initiatives
  • Thought leadership in relevant fields

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis through careful deliberation. No specific timeline is publicly available.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the Woodcock Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, organizations can position themselves for potential partnership by:

  • Building sector visibility: The foundation's recent grantees include innovative organizations like ARC Solutions (wildlife crossings), Beats, Rhymes, and Life (youth hip hop therapy), and Black Voters Matter, suggesting they value creative approaches to systemic challenges

  • Demonstrating impact: The foundation practices trust-based philanthropy and provides long-term, core funding, indicating they seek organizations with proven track records

  • Alignment with multiple focus areas: Many funded organizations address intersections of their three priorities (e.g., environmental justice, economic opportunity through conservation)

  • Leadership and innovation: The foundation particularly values programs that "encourage leadership" and "foster entrepreneurship"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Woodcock Foundation is an invitation-only funder with no public application process
  • They provide long-term, core funding with a median grant of $32,000
  • Focus areas span democracy, economic opportunity, and environment with preference for intersectional approaches
  • The foundation practices trust-based philanthropy, emphasizing relationships over transactions
  • They rarely fund new organizations, preferring to deepen existing partnerships
  • Organizations should focus on building sector visibility and demonstrating innovation in their approach
  • Connections through existing grantees or collaborative initiatives may lead to consideration

References

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